Nearly 40 Russellville Junior High School (RJHS) students attended the school’s seventh annual New Student Party on Oct. 7.

“The purpose of the event is to again welcome the new and returning students to RJHS and help ease the transition to a new school by [introducing them to] other new students,” Counselor Tamara Laws said. “This party is important because it allows students to see they’re not the only ones who are new and provides them with an additional opportunity to make new friends.”

At the party, students introduce themselves saying where they moved from and what they like best about RJHS so far.

Laws, who organized the party with fellow counselor Amy Warrick, said moving to a new school at the junior high age can be especially challenging because aside from missing friends they had at their previous school, they may not know anyone at their new school.

New students are assigned an ambassador the first day of school. Teachers nominate students they think are warm, welcoming and outgoing to be ambassadors.

“Ambassadors help them find each class, assist them with their lockers, ask them to sit with them and their friends at lunch and generally just show them the ropes,” Law said.

To help ease the minds of the new students’ parents, RJHS counselors call them each to address any questions or concerns they have and hear their perspective of how their child is adjusting.

Law said RJHS wants the transition to be as smooth as possible for the entire family.

“Anything we can do to make that transition easier is important to us,” she said.